Statement on International Holocaust Remembrance Day

(OTTAWA) - Today, marks 72 years since the liberation of the victims of the Holocaust in Auschwitz-Birkenau. The world pauses to commemorate International Holocaust Remembrance Day by paying tribute to the millions of lives that were lost.

“The world must continue to be watchful and remember ‘never again’ must apply to areas of horrifically violent conflict that have potential to become a genocidal slaughter. The international community must stay involved to prevent human rights abuses,” said Elizabeth May.

More than six million Jewish people were killed in the atrocities of the Holocaust. Others were also targeted, including Romani people, mentally and physically disabled people and homosexuals. The day of international remembrance on January 27 marks the liberation of the largest Nazi death camp, Auschwitz-Birkenau, by Soviet troops in 1945.